Why is it then that most people I meet seem to have lost confidence in him and remember the Bush days with nostalgia?

The Security Council berth is already off the mat, with news of his dismissing it just three days before his visit, it certainly is not going to sit well with his hosts.

Even the defence deal is not something which many cheer, for the simple reason that the US has proved time and time again that it is not a reliable partner in delivering the goods. It has often shown a penchant for stopping the flow in mid stream. This is what bothers me about having to depend for supplies on the US. They suddenly pull out some internal legislation under which supplies get discontinued – often even after payment has been made. Even their current ‘staunch’ ally in the WOT, Pakistan, has not been spared – think F-16 deal.